Submersible drag



J. P. DE GROOT SUBMERSIBLE DRAG May 8, 1951 Filed May 5, 1950 INVENTOR.JOHN H DEGROOT WZ-Ff/MMMWZvWW.

ATT ORNEYS Patented May 8, 1951 UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE SUBMERSIBLEDRAG John Peter De 'Groot, Peru, Ill.

Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,303

1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to submersible drags and moreparticularly to a drag to be suspended from a boat and moved along thebottom of a body of water to recover bodies or objects lost in thewater.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved dragwhich can be provided in different lengths to quickly cover a large areawhere the bottom of the body of Water i substantially flat or to closelyfollow the contour of the bottom where the latter has deep holes andnarrow channels therein, which includes a buoyant, hook carrying memberadjustably positioned above the bottom so that the hooks may be causedto move closely adjacent the bottom but without digging into the bottomin a manner to cause them to become fouled on logs, snags or otherobstructions embedded in the bottom of a body of water, which can bereduced to a smooth and compact condition with no exposed hook points orother sharp objects for transportation and storage, which can be quicklyassembled and disassembled, and which is strong and durable inconstruction, of light weight and easy to use, and highly effective inoperation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claim in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a submersible drag illustrative ofthe invention shown operatively positioned in a body of water to recovera body or object from the bottom of the body of water;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of thedevice in compacted condition.

With continued reference to the drawing, the body comprises anelongated, thin walled tube Ill preferably formed of a suitablecorrosion resisting material such as brass, copper or stainless steel.This tube is longitudinally corrugated, as indicated at H, to increaseits strength and rigidity and is buoyant in water when both of its endsare closed to contain a body of air therein. This tube may be providedin different lengths for different bottom conditions. It is contemplatedthat where the drag is to be used on a sub- 5 to closely follow thecontours of such a bottom.

One end of the tube is permanently closed by a plughaving an eye l2thereon and the other end is closed by a removable plug, such as therubber stopper [3.

Three line attaching eyes l4, l5 and I6 are secured to the tube atspaced apart locations along one side thereof, the eye l5 being disposedsubstantially at the mid-length location of the tube and the eyes I land I6 being disposed near the respectively opposite ends of the tube. Abridle comprising three lines ll, 18 and [9 are connected each at oneend to the eyes [4, l5 and I6 respectively and are connected at theiropposite ends to a common ring 20 to which a tow rope 2| may beconnected by a swivel hook 22 to suspend the drag from a boat and movethe drag along the bottom of a body of water.

A plurality of eyes, as indicated at 23 to 30 inclusive, are secured tothe tube III at spaced apart locations along the side of the tubeopposite the eyes Hl, l5 and I6 and a plurality of lines, as indicatedat 3| to 38 inclusive, are connected respectively each at one end to acorresponding eye.

The lines 32 and 31 disposed adjacent the respectively opposite ends ofthe tube II) are somewhat heavier than the remaining lines and weights39 and 40 are connected to the lines 32 and 31 respectively at the endsof these lines remote from the tube In.

Grappling hooks as indicated at 4| to 46 in-v clusive are secured one toeach of the remaining lines at the ends of the corresponding linesremote from the tube I I].

The lines 32 and 31 attaching the weights 39 and 40 to the tube may beadjusted in length to position the grappling hooks relative to thebottom being dragged so that the most effective results can be obtainedwithout having the hooks fouled in obstructions embedded in the bottom.

The tube is of sufficient diameter to receive the hooks, weights, linesand bridle therein so that, by removing the removable plug I 3 all ofthe equipment may be placed inside of the tube and conveniently storedor carried in this condition with no hook points or other sharp elementsexposed.

The bridle and the hook and weight lines are connected to thecorresponding eyes by snap hooks, as indicated at ll in Figure 2, tofacilitate the assembly and disassembly of the device and the eye I2 atone end of the tube In is of material assistance in handling the dragand may also be used for the attachment of a loose line to the 3 drag sothat the drag can be easily recovered if it should break away from theboat by which it is being towed.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claim are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

A submersible drag comprising an elongated tube, means closing both endsof said tube to render the same buoyant, line attaching eyes secured tosaid tube at spaced apart locations along opposite sides of the latter,a tow line bridle connected to the eyes at one side of said tube, aplurality of lines connected one to each eye at the other side of thetube, weights connected one to each of two lines disposed adjacent therespectively opposite ends of said tube, and grappling hooks secured oneto each of the remaining lines of said plurality of lines, the meansclosing one end of said tube being removable and said tube having aninternal capacity suificient to receive said bridle, said lines, saidweights and said grappling hooks therein.

JOHN PETER DE GROOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PI XTENTS Number Name Date 752,550 Heritage Feb. 16, 1904946,798 Franz Jan. 18, 1910 2,077,630 Lane Apr. 20, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 446,577 France Dec. 9, 1912 801,010 France July 25,1936

